(972 words)

Your POV

"My leg hurts!"

Blinking at him for a moment, my brows furrow as my (e/c) eyes darken at him. He stands up straight for a second, as he knows what's about to happen.

"You selfish, arrogant, asshole! Of course your leg hurts, your leg always hurts. But do you know what? I'm hurting too! If you had focused on anything else besides that damn leg of yours and your vicodin habits you might have actually noticed. It's always about you, never anything about me. I'm your girlfriend for christ's sake, you should care about how I feel. But you don't, I don't think you've ever cared. I'm not even sure if you can even learn!"

He looks at me, his blue eyes saddened slightly as he glances away. Shaking my head I look at the floor, only now feeling my nails digging into my palms. The floor creaks slightly as he shifts in his place. Moving the weight off his leg as his cane is hanging on the door behind me. Taking in a breath and letting it out, my voice lowers as I speak.

"You can stay out here on the couch tonight, I'm going to bed."

"You can't kick me out of my own room."

Taking his cane off the door, and tossing it towards the couch I stop and look at him. "Pretty sure I just did, Gregory."

Slamming the door to his room, locking it before turning around. Putting my hands on my cheeks as I feel the heat of my face, mixed with a bit of tears. Not even noticing I had been crying until now. Shaking my head and going to the closet to get some of the clothes that I had here, getting changed and slipping into bed. Only to remember that I left the sliding door to the bathroom unlocked.

Unsure if House would even feel guilty enough to try the door, I decide to leave it unlocked. Doubting he would even come in here in the middle of the night. This was how our relationship has been as of late. He ignores me for most of the day, and yet his eyes are glued to me when he sees me. Watching the sway of my labcoat and my heels as they click along the tiled hospital floor. But when we're home, it's like I don't exist. It's always him and his wrestling, his monster trucks, and his damn vicodin. We've been in a relationship for what has felt like forever, but it's only been about 8 months.

It never used to be like this, at the beginning he was sweet and caring, always made sure I was okay. Sure he did some stupid things, but it's House. He's a creature of habit. Then again, so am I. I always expect him to do something different, a little glimmer of hope that he will. Though I'm never surprised when he stays to his ways. I can't leave because I know that if I do I'll be worse off than with him. The same probably goes for him. Miserable before, and even more miserable afterwards. There's a codependency between us.

I jump as I feel arms around me, hearing his low voice and his slight lisp as he talks in my ear.

"It's just me."

"What do you want?"

His hand rests on my side as he props himself up on his elbow behind me. I can feel myself sink slightly towards his weight.

"I can hear you crying in the living room, I wanted to check on you."

There was shame in his voice, he knew he caused it. Like a puppy with its tail between it's legs. It was silent as I didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry I've been careless with your feelings. Sometimes I think you'd be better off with someone else, someone that could make you happier than I ever could. They say that if you love something, let them go. As much as I want to, I can't."

Wiping my face I sniff gently. "For as smart as you are, you're a goddamn idiot, Greg." His hand rubs my side a little as he's trying to mull things over.

"I don't want anyone else, I want you. Gregory House M.D. The head of Diagnostics at Prinston Plainsboro in New Jersey."

He releases a shaky breath that he plays off with a slight cough. Trying to hide it from me like everything else. He moves his weight off his elbow as he puts his arm under my head, his hand still on my side, but keeping the space between us as if he's scared I'll yell at him again. Or that if he gets too close I'll move away again. I can feel his lips on my shoulder as he sits there.

"You only call me 'Gregory' when I'm in trouble."

Shaking my head as I fight the small smile that's trying to form. "That's your takeaway from this?"

"No, I know I need to change a couple of things. I'm just scared. Scared that if I let you in you'll end up hurting me and leave."

"House, love. I'm not going anywhere, I don't care what skeletons you have in your closet. I love you and want to be here. It's just difficult when you're being an ass."

His arms wrap around me as he pulls me into him. I let him as I close my eyes, relaxing into his warmth.

"I love you." He plants a couple small kisses on my neck and shoulder before he rests his head behind mine. I can feel his breath in my hair as he relaxes slightly. He's always loved the smell of my shampoo and perfume. The smell of vanilla if something I wouldn't have thought he liked.